Denver Broncos: Is Kareem Jackson’s replacement already on the roster?

There are many questions directed toward some key players on the Denver Broncos as the 2021 NFL Draft and free agency inch closer.

One specific position that currently has question marks is at safety.

The Broncos want to sign free safety Justin Simmons to a long-term deal after he played the 2020 season on the franchise tag. If they are unable to reach a deal, he will become an unrestricted free agent.

However, I want to focus on the other safety that plays right beside Simmons: Kareem Jackson.

Jackson is another safety on the roster who could end up as a cap casualty. At 33-years old, Jackson has been rumored to be gone from the team this offseason in favor of somebody younger.

So, who can replace Jackson if the Broncos decide to move on? The answer could be on the roster already. That player might just be fan-favorite Will Parks.

After several years in a reserve role, this could be the time Parks gets the chance to become a player who plays a large portion of the team’s snaps going forward. I would say full-time player at the safety position, but that’s not necessarily ever going to be his role in Vic Fangio’s defense.

Parks is capable of playing multiple positions on the defense, including dime linebacker and nickel cornerback. He’s a hard-hitting safety who I believe can have a big impact on this defense.

Another reason this could be a solid move is the chemistry between Parks and Simmons. They came into the NFL together in the 2016 Draft and played four-plus years on the Broncos.

After leaving in free agency to the Philadelphia Eagles, his hometown team, Parks was eventually cut mid-season and re-signed with Denver, where he played 200 snaps on defense in four games.

Keeping Parks and Simmons on the team should be a priority for the Denver Broncos this offseason, just like it should have been last year, too.